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UPDATED: What Jeh Johnson's nomination means for DHS

(This story was updated Oct. 18 at 2:40 p.m. to include details on the official nomination)

Jeh Johnson is an unlikely choice to be the next Homeland Security Department
secretary.

He's a criminal and civil trial attorney and served as an assistant U.S. attorney
in New York, where he prosecuted public corruption cases. He spent almost four
years as the Defense Department's general counsel and more than two years as the
Air Force's lead lawyer. And, according to his DoD bio, he has no discernible homeland security background.

But that seems to be the trend for the White House as of late.

President Barack Obama officially nominated Johnson Friday to
replace Janet Napolitano as the top official at DHS.

Napolitano stepped down in September after
more than four years on the job. She is now the president of the University of
California.

Jeh Johnson

"Having served in the Department of Defense, Mr. Johnson is well-acquainted with
the needs of a large and diverse department. I look forward to working with him
to improve the effectiveness of DHS' programs and operations, as well as employee
morale," said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the Homeland
Security Committee, in a statement. "His experience in counterterrorism and
cybersecurity will be an asset to the nation. The Department of Homeland Security
has been without a permanent leader for far too long. In light of these
circumstances and Mr. Johnson's qualifications, I urge the Senate to take swift
action to confirm him."

The president, especially as of late, is bringing senior officials into government without necessarily a lot of
experience in the position or agency. For example, Obama nominated Beth Cobert to
the deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget despite
having never served in government. He also appointed Avril Haines in August to be
the deputy director of the CIA despite having never served in the intelligence
community.

But Johnson's lack of experience with the homeland security sector doesn't mean he
can't be a good manager, which is what the department needs more than ever,
according to lawmakers.

Other lawmakers joined Thompson in praising Obama's decision to finally nominate a
new DHS secretary.

"[I] look forward to hearing Mr. Johnson's vision for improving the department's
operations, morale and creating a more unified agency. In order for DHS to carry
out its core mission of protecting the American people, from our border and
cybersecurity to the growing threat of terrorism, the department needs a strong
leader with a commitment to enforcing the law," said Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas),
chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, in a statement. "Even with this
prospective nominee, over 40 percent of senior leadership positions at DHS are
either vacant or have an 'acting' placeholder. The lack of leadership at the White
House is reflected in the holes in leadership at the department, and these
important positions must be filled in order to fill the holes in our homeland
security."

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs Committee, said in a statement that because of the lack of permanent
leadership at DHS, Johnson's nomination comes at a critical time.

"Mr. Johnson brings a wealth of experience from the Department of Defense, and I
am eager to meet with him and discuss his vision for the Department of Homeland
Security," he said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee
to consider his nomination in a thorough and timely manner."

Alejandro Mayorkas, the White House's nominee to be deputy secretary at DHS, is under fire
in the Senate because of allegations that he used his position to influence a
decision regarding a company run by the brother of former Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mayorkas denied exercising any undue influence.

Rand Beers is serving as the acting secretary and Rafael Borras is the acting
deputy secretary.